26. Charts

Question 1

Charts

What type of chart will includ plots of QFF

Answer 1

SYNOPTIC CHART

1

Question 2

Charts

Synoptic charts provide plot points of pressure measured at what datum (given as what Q reference)

Answer 2

MEAN SEA LEVEL
(MSL)
QFF

1

Question 3

Charts

Mean Sea Level Pressure (MSLP) charts are taken every ____ hours at what intervals

Answer 3

6 HOURS
0000 Z / 0600 Z / 1200 Z / 1800 Z

1

Question 4

Charts

Occluded fronts on a chart are what coloud

Answer 4

VIOLET

1

Question 5

Charts

Quasi Stationary fronts on a chart are what mixed colour

Answer 5

RED and BLUE

1

Question 6

Charts

Significant weather charts are nromally prepared how long in advance

Answer 6

24 HRS

3

Question 7

Charts

A significant weather chart is normally prepared 24 hours in advance. Each chart issue covereds a period of ____hrs before and ____hrs after the issue time

Answer 7

1. 3 HRS BEFORE
2. 3 HRS AFTER

• The 1200z as an example covers the period 0900z to 1500z

3

Question 8

Charts

1. The ICAO standard medium level significant weather chart covers flight levels between FL ____ and FL ____
2. Most forecasters however tend to issue charts valid between FL ____ and FL ____

Answer 8

1. FL100 and FL250
2. FL100 and FL450

3

Question 9

Charts

High and medium levle significant weather charts include which of the following information;

1. Tropical cyclones - wind speed greater than ____ kts
2. MODERATE+ or SEVERE squall lines
3. ____ turbulence (in cloud or clear air)
4. ____ icing
5. Widespread sandstorm/duststorm
6. Cumulonimbus clouds when associated with ____ and with ____

Answer 9

1. > 34 KTS
2. SEVERE SQUALL LINES
3. MOD to SEV TURBULENCE
4. MOD to SEV ICING
5. As read
6. THUNDERSTORMS or ITEMS 1 to 5

• CB clouds associated with thunderstorms or with any of the items as listed 1 to 5
• Items 1 to 6 will only be included if expected to occur between the lower and upper levels of the SIGWX chart

4

Question 10

Charts

On a SIGWX chart the abbreviation “CB” will only be included when it refers to the expected occurrence of cumulonimbus clouds which;

1. Affecting an area with a maximum spatial covered of ____% of the area concerned
2. Along a line with little or no space between individual clouds, listed as SQL or EMDB or OSBC
3. Embedded by cloud layers, listed as SQL or EMDB or OBSC
4. Obscured by haze, listed as SQL or EMDB or OBSC
5. The Cumulonimbus clouds are individual, listed as ISOL or OCNL or FRQ
6. The Cumulonimbus clouds are well seperated, listed as ISOL or OCNL or FRQ
7. The Cumulonimbus clouds have little or no seperation, listed as ISOL or OCNL or FRQ

Answer 10

1. 50%
2. SQL
3. EMBD
4. OBSC
5. ISOL
6. OCNL
7. FRQ

• When CB are listed on the SIGWX it should be understood it includes all weather phenomena normally associated with a CB cloud i.e. thunderstorms, moderate or severe icing, modereate or serve turbulence and hail

5

Question 11

Charts

Refer to the following diagram. Identify each of the SIGWX icons

1. [ ]
2. [ ]
3. [ ]
4. [ ]
5. [ ]
6. [ ]
7. [ ]
8. [ ]
9. [ ]
10. [ ]
11. [ ]
12. [ ]
13. [ ]

Answer 11

1. [TROPICAL CYCLONE]
2. [SEVERE SQUALL LINES]
3. [MODERATE TURBULENCE]
4. [SHOWER]
5. [SEVERE TURBULENCE]
6. [MOUNTAIN WAVE]
7. [LIGHT ICING]
8. [MODEREATE ICING]
9. [SEVERE ICING]
10. [WIDERSPREAD FOG]
11. [RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL IN ATMOSPHERE]
12. [VOLCANIC ERUPTION]
13. [OBSCURED MOUNTAINS]

SIGWX ICONS

6

Question 12

Charts

Refer to the following diagram. Identify each of the SIGWX icons

1. [ ]
2. [ ]
3. [ ]
4. [ ]
5. [ ]
6. [ ]
7. [ ]
8. [ ]
9. [ ]
10. [ ]
11. [ ]
12. [ ]
13. [ ]

Answer 12

1. [DRIZZLE]
2. [RAIN]
3. [SNOW]
4. [HAIL]
5. [THUNDERSTORM]
6. [WIDESPREAD BLOWING SNOW]
7. [SEVERE SANDSTORM or DUSTSTORM]
8. [WIDESPREAD SANDSTORM/DUSTSTORM]
9. [WIDESPREAD HAZE]
10. [WIDESPREAD MIST]
11. [FREEZING FOG]
12. [WIDESPREAD SMOKE]
13. [FREEZING PRECIPITATION]

SIGWX ICONS

6

Question 13

Charts

Refer to the following diagram. What is provided in this information

Answer 13

TROPOPAUSE HIGH
TROPOPAUSE LOW

SIGWX ICONS

6

Question 14

Charts

What is the following information telling you

Answer 14

ACTIVE VOLCANO
37.7°N Lat
15.0°E LONG

• In this exampl, this is an active volcano in Silcily, Italy

7

Question 15

Charts

On a SIGWX chart, what is the significance of the scalloped lines (the lines that look like clouds)

Answer 15

BOUNDARY OF AREAS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER

EXAMPLE

7

Question 16

Charts

On a SIGWX chart, what is the significane of a broken/dashed line

Answer 16

BOUNDARY OF AREAS OF CAT

EXAMPLE

7

Question 17

Charts

On a SIGWX chart, if the max wind speed is 80 or 120 kts or more, the flight levels between whcih the wind speed exceeds 60 or 80 kts are shown between the height of the jet core.

Answer 17

1. 120 kts
2. 80 kts

• WARNING - do nto misread the chart
• The fligt levels meeting this criteria are given as example 150/450
• This should not be misread as wind blowing from 150° at 450 kts
• Where the vertical extent is beyond the limits of the charts, the limits will be expressed as XXX

EXAMPLE

8

Question 18

Charts

refer to the following SIGWX chart. What is meant by the information circled in red

Answer 18

Individual cumulonimbas embeded in layer clouds.
The base of the CB is below FL250 and the top of the clodu is FL400

• The base of the CB is below FL250 as the base is given as XXX and in the bottom right of the chart it states this is a chart for between FL250 and FL650

8

Question 19

Charts

What is the significance of the SIGWX chart giving a spot tropopause height indication

Answer 19

OAT ABOVE THIS POINT ARE CONSTANT

• In below example, see reference A
• This is a Tropopause spot height
• Reference B is the Tropopause LOW

EXAMPLE

9

Question 20

Charts

Refer to the following SIGWX information. What is meant by the information given at C

Answer 20

THE JETSTREAM CORE IS FL240

9

Question 21

Charts

Refer to the following diagram. What is the windspeed, direction, and temperature for each;

1. WS [ ] Direction [ ]Temp [ ]
2. WS [ ] Direction [ ]Temp [ ]
3. WS [ ] Direction [ ]Temp [ ]

Answer 21

1. WS [30kts] Direction [300] Temp [-36℃]
2. WS [60kts] Direction [90°] Temp [-56℃]
3. WS [15kts] Direction [240°] Temp [+2℃]

• Each half feather line = 5 kts
• Each solid feather line = 10 knots
• Each solid triangle = 50 kts
• Temperatures are all given as a minus UNELSS;
• It is a positive temperature, which is preceded with PS

10

Question 22

Charts

Refer to the following diagram. What is meant by the 2 vertical bars intercepting the windspeed line

Answer 22

CHANGE OF WINDSPEED OF 20+KTS
OR;
CHANGE IN HEIGHT OF 3000 FT

• When there is insufficient space on the wind chart to include a pennant/feather symbol the hatch markings will be used

10

Question 23

Charts

ICAO Annex 3 requires upper wind and temperature charts for the following flight levels. What are their corresponding Hectopascal values

1. FL050 [ ]
2. FL100 [ ]
3. FL180 [ ]
4. FL240 [ ]
5. FL300 [ ]
6. FL340 [ ]
7. FL390 [ ]
8. FL450 [ ]
9. FL530 [ ]

Use the Magic 7 Cheat

Answer 23

1. FL050 [850 hPa]
2. FL100 [700 hPa]
3. FL180 [500 hPa]
4. FL240 [400 hPa]
5. FL300 [300 hPa]
6. FL340 [250 hPa]
7. FL390 [200 hPa]
8. FL450 [150 hPa]
9. FL530 [100 hPa]

MAGIC 7 CHEAT

11

Question 24

Charts

Refer to the following diagram. Find the mean winds for a track along 40°N parallel for 040°W to 010°W. What is the average temperature.

Assuming that this is a 300 hPa chart (FL300) what is the ISA deviation

Answer 24

270°T/40 KTS
-63℃
ISA DEV -18℃

• There are 7 wind indications between the 040°W to 010°W track

MEAN DIRECTION
* It can be seen the wind changes from around 290°T to 250°T on the track
* 290 + 250 = 540
* 540 / 2 = 270
* 270°

MEAN Wind Speed
* Add each wind speed together and divide by the number of indications to get the mean
* 35 + 35 + 40 + 40 + 45 + 50 + 40 = 285
* 285 / 7 = 40
* 40 KTS

MEAN TEMPERATURE
* Add each temperature together and divide by the number of indications to get the mean
* (-65℃) + (-65℃) +(-64℃) (-62℃) + (-61℃) + (-61℃) + (-61℃) = -439
* 439 / 7 = -63
* -63℃

ISA DEVIATION
* Use the MAGIC 7 CHEAT
* If this were the 300 hPa Chart, the altitude is FL300
* Use the ISA formula to calculate temperature
* 15 - (atl x 2) ⋉ 15 - (30 x 2)
* 15 - 60
* ** ISA -45℃**
* Actual temperature is -63℃
* (-63) - (-45) = (-18)
* ISA DEV -18℃

12

Question 25

# Charts A satelite at 36,000 km altitude will resolve around the earth once in 24 hours. If placed over th equator, orbiting in the same direction as the earths rotation, it will appear stationary. This is known as a *GEOSTATIC or GEOSTATIONARY* orbit

Answer 25

GEOSTATIONARY ## Footnote 14

Question 26

# Charts What are 2 primary disadvantages of a geostationary met sateltite

Answer 26

1. FIELD OF VIEW TO LARGE FOR DETAILED DISPLAY 2. HIGH LATITUDE VIEWS RESITRCTED ## Footnote * Geostationary satelties are supplemented by low orbit polar satelites that orbit from the North Pole to the South Pole 14

Question 27

# Charts 1. Geostationary satelties orbit the earth at ____ km altitude 2. The supplementary low level orbit North to South pole orbit satelites orbit the earth at ____ km altitude

Answer 27

1. 36,000 km 2. 900 km ## Footnote 14

Question 28

# Charts The name of the satelite system that European met images come from

Answer 28

METEOSTAT ## Footnote 14

Question 29

# Charts On an Infrared chart; 1. *COLD or HOT* temperatures are displayed as white 2. *COLD or HOT* temperatures are displayed as black

Answer 29

1. COLD 2. HOT ## Footnote * The earth surface, unless very cold, is typically black * Cloud tops are typically white * Cloud thickness is not displayed [EXAMPLE](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vID-QhVSVlxTItcFEKU-QKmV-K-0oJg2/view?usp=drive_link) 15

Question 30

# Charts On a visible image chart; 1. Reflective surfaces such as cloud, snow, ice are shown as *WHITE or BLACK* 2. Land and sea surfaces are shown as *WHITE or BLACK*

Answer 30

1. WHITE 2. BLACK ## Footnote * In this example, there is a lot of cloud over Europe into Eastern Europe [EXAMPLE](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vMoBBZEwJtCpVYo0RHFSvR9sT9DjBF3o/view?usp=drive_link) 16

Question 31

# Charts 1. Water Vapour imagery highlights the presence of water vapour in the upper atmosphere, typically above ____ ft AMSL 2. Water Vapour imagery is particularly useful at identifying the presence of what flight risk phenomenon

Answer 31

1. 20,000 ft 2. MOUNTAIN WAVES ## Footnote 20

Question 32

# Charts Ground Weather Radar functions by transmitting a pulse of radio energy and measuring the energy reflected back. It is used to identify associated severe turbulence with Cb cloud. What are the "targets" in cumuliform cloud that the radar is detecting i.e. what is it detecting within the cloud to produce an output

Answer 32

RAIN DROPS and HAIL STONES ## Footnote [EXAMPLE](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vNlDlvwvqaqIJJyaLha7V7BK0-9D1Dl9/view?usp=drive_link) 21

Question 33

# Charts The strength of ground weather radar returns to the pulses transmitted vary on the material that is reflecting the pulse i.e. rain or hail. In descending order, what is the order of reflectivity on the below materials (most reflective to least reflective); [ ] Dry Snow [ ] Drizzle [ ] Wet Hail [ ] Dry Hail [ ] Wet Snow [ ] Rain

Answer 33

[**1**] Wet Hail [**2**] Rain [**3**] Wet Snow [**4**] Dry Hail [**5**] Dry Snow [**6**] Drizzle ## Footnote 22

Question 34

# Charts On a airborne weather radar, intensity of return (colour of weather on the map) in itself does not indicate turbulance. Turbulence is most likely where there are sharp updrafts near the edge of a thunderstorm cell. How would this be reflected on an airborne weather radar

Answer 34

COLOURS CLOSE TOGETHER ## Footnote [EXAMPLE](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vTokE17sJf01WcGkXL3PHnxhAICxVlfS/view?usp=drive_link) 24

Question 35

# Charts Shapes of the colour return on an airborne weather radar can indicate storm activity. Which of the following would be indicators of turbulence; [ ] Finger shape [ ] Hook shape [ ] Bubble shape [ ] U-shape [ ] Scalloped edges [ ] Straight defined line

Answer 35

[**X**] ***Finger shape*** [**X**] ***Hook shape*** [ ] Bubble shape [**X**] ***U-shape*** [**X**] ***Scalloped edges*** [ ] Straight defined line ## Footnote [EXAMPLE](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vXlFUzXYpIJ-8biXEQbCZuDK8E3-aF4K/view?usp=drive_link) 25

Question 36

# Charts Intense returns on an airborne weather radar can mask clouds behind them falsely indicating a clear area. This is known as ____

Answer 36

RADAR SHADOWING ## Footnote [EXAMPLE](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vYzl-vbCcZY9zbPRUFOyccF9lRsTcnIO/view?usp=drive_link) 27

Question 37

# Charts What does TCAC stand for

Answer 37

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVISORY CENTRE (TCAC) ## Footnote 28

Question 38

# Charts What does VAAC stand for

Answer 38

VOLCANIC ASH ADVISORY CENTRE (VAAC) ## Footnote 30